The City Council voted Oct. 28 to award the bid for environmental testing and consulting services to Environmental Testing & Consulting (ETC) as the lowest responsible bidder, with a not-to-exceed authorization of $5,500 for up to 50 hours of service related to housing rehabilitation, demolitions and FEMA projects.

Housing and code-enforcement staff told the council ETC has worked with the city for years on housing rehabilitation and demolition projects and that the firm knows the city’s processes for asbestos/lead/radon testing and monitoring. During discussion a council member requested that corporation counsel review the final contract form before it is signed; council amended the motion to make final authorization subject to corporation counsel review and return for final approval.

Why it matters: Environmental testing is required for many demolition and housing rehab projects to protect residents and workers and to ensure regulatory compliance. Using a familiar vendor can speed project turnaround but requires contract oversight.

Details: The procurement summary in the agenda listed three bidders and ETC as the lowest bidder for the required services. The council’s amended approval directs staff to return the contract for final signature only after corporation counsel reviews its form. Staff said the contract term as presented would expire five years from execution and that payment will be charged to housing rehabilitation and FEMA-related accounts once account numbers are established.

Outlook: Staff will provide the contract to corporation counsel for review and return to council for final authorization to sign, at which point the work order and purchase authorization will proceed.